POLYCHAETA was born from a passion for recreational fishing and a desire to provide a sustainable alternative to wild-caught bait. Over the years, our research revealed that polychaetes have far greater potential than bait alone, opening the door to new applications in aquaculture. Today, this journey continues through a technology platform dedicated to innovative marine solutions.
A Lovely Adventure
OUR STORY
2014
BEGINNINGThe beginning
In 2014, Marwen Mokdad and Ahmed Malek, two biologist engineers, noticed a decline in natural marine worm populations through their marine worm export business serving the recreational fishing industry. They decided to develop a sustainable alternative and launched the first research on polychaete farming
2019
SUCCESSThe first success
In 2019, after five years of studying the life cycle of the Perinereis Cultrifera, we succeeded in controlling their reproduction using an in vitro fertilization technique. This breakthrough allowed us, for the first time, to complete their entire life cycle under farming conditions.
2020
TESTSemi pilote
In 2020, we reached another milestone with the launch of a 50 m² semi-pilot production unit, where we successfully produced our first kilograms of polychaetes. During this phase, we developed a new stress-based reproduction method, more efficient than in vitro fertilization, which became the subject of our first patent.
2021
PILOTEFirst Pilot Farm
In 2021, we established the first pilot marine worm farm in Tunisia, on the shores of the Bizerte Lagoon. Covering 350 m², the facility was designed to produce around one tonne per year under conditions close to the species' natural habitat.
2024
RESILIENCEA Necessary Change
In 2024, rising Mediterranean temperatures gradually made the Bizerte Lagoon less suitable for farming our species. We therefore decided to completely rethink our production process
2025
CHANGEA New Generation of Farming
In 2025, we developed a RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System), a closed production system that provides full control over farming conditions. A new pilot unit was established in southern France, and POLYCHAETA expanded its activities into premium feed and bioremediation through collaborations with research institutions.
2026
VALIDATIONValidation and Future Outlook
In 2026, our RAS production process was successfully validated, paving the way for a 5,000 m² industrial project on the French Atlantic coast. At the same time, our first results confirmed the potential of marine worms for premium feed and bioremediation applications.